Financial reasons forced me to go for the cheapest Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 MK II, an extremely light little stuff with all plastic body priced at about $80 brand new. So small and lightweight that a fellow Bali photographer called it bottle-cap lens. Whilst many online resources, reviews, and other Canon users adore this lens, I have been disappointed right on the first shoot I took. I borrowed a couple similar lenses belong to my friends to make sure that it was not about the particular unit I owned. After about a month I was pretty sure that it was not a keeper, and started to research for replacement.

Knowing its price, I did not even consider the top-of-the-line Canon EF 50mm F/1.2 L. The option I strongly considered was obviously Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 priced at about $320. A few reviews I read advised that the significant price difference worthed. The four times price difference gave more than just one stop more light. Sharpness, focusing performance, response to flair, and bokeh are to name some benefits.

Whilst I was considering an offer of a used Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 in mint condition offered at $230 compared to buying brand new at $320, an irresistible offer came, a used Carl Zeiss Planar T* F/1.4 bundled with CY (Contax) to EF (Canon EOS) mount converter. The legendary Carl Zeiss SLR/DSLR lenses have never been built with Canon mount, so converter was the only solution for those using Canon camera who expects to get Carl Zeiss optical excellence. I am still wondering why Carl Zeiss set Canon aside whilst providing the lens with some other mounts including ZV (Hasselblad), SF (Nikon), ZK (Pentax), ZS (M42 screw-mount), in addition to native ZM (Contax Ikon).

As I have been educated with amazing reviews about Carl Zeiss lenses excellence, so it did not take me too long to decide to break the deal of Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 and go for Carl Zeiss. The only negative thing I understood was manual focusing. But I rarely use 50mm primes for shoots requiring fast focusing. Portraiture and still life shoots I am normally taking with these lenses obviously give sufficient time for precise manual focusing. Beside, the price was absolutely fantastic. The lens and converter package was offered at only $230 in like-new condition. In Indonesia, brand new in Nikon mount was priced at about $650 plus about $50 extra for mounting converter.

The mechanical construction of the lens was excellent. It had satin black metal barrel with textured rubber grip. Since it was manual focus lenses, the focusing action was firm and smooth. The feeling was much different than manually focusing most AF lenses. Since there was no concern about a small motor having to do the work, a substantial damping can be applied.

Praises gave by many reviewers as the sharpest 50mm lens has proven to be true. Focused properly It gave amazing results compared to my beloved AF Nikkor F/1.4D on my old Nikon day. No words to compare it to my dumped out Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 MK II as they were simply not in apple-to-apple comparison. Well, to be fair, Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 MK II was priced at $80, simply not comparable to $650 Carl Zeiss Planar T* F/1.4.

This lens is definitely a keeper. I just have to get myself back to the old manual days. But the trading of auto focus comfort worths, as photography is all about image quality. I guess unless I can afford to get Canon EF 50mm F/1.2 L, I will forget auto focus comfort in 50mm prime.